Cuban sandwich
A Cuban sandwich is a variation of a ham and cheese originally created by Cuban workers, either in Cuba, Miami,[1] or in Ybor City,[2] Tampa, Florida. Later, Cubans brought it to other communities in southern Florida, particularly Key West, Florida. The sandwich is made with ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, pickles, mustard, and sometimes salami on Cuban bread.[2]
History
As with Cuban bread, the origin of the Cuban sandwich (sometimes called a "mixto sandwich", or "Cuban Pressed Sandwich") is somewhat murky. The sandwich became a common lunch food for workers in both the cigar factories and sugar mills of Cuba and the cigar factories of Ybor City around 1900.[2][3]
At that time, travel between Cuba and Florida was easy, and Cubans frequently sailed back and forth for employment, family visits, etc. Because of the blending of culture and ideas, it’s impossible to say where the Cuban sandwich first became a common worker’s meal.[2] Very quickly, however, workers’ cafés in both Ybor City and Cuba were serving many such sandwiches daily.[4][5][6]
Later on, Miami also gained a resident Cuban population. By the 1930s, Cuban sandwiches were common on Miami cafeteria and restaurant menus, and are still very popular there today.[3]
Ingredients
While there is some debate as to the contents of a “true” Cuban sandwich, most are generally agreed upon. The traditional Cuban sandwich starts with Cuban bread. The loaf is sliced into lengths of 8-12 inches (20-30 cm), lightly buttered on the crust, and cut in half horizontally. A coat of yellow mustard is spread on the bread. Then roast pork, glazed ham, Swiss cheese, and thinly-sliced dill pickles are added in layers. Sometimes the pork is marinated in mojo (a Cuban garlic/citrus marinade) and slow roasted.
The main regional disagreement about the sandwich’s recipe is whether or not to include salami. In Tampa, Genoa salami is traditionally layered in with the other meats, probably due to influence of Italian immigrants who lived side-by-side with Cubans and Spaniards in Ybor City.[4][7] In Miami, salami is left out.
In Key West, mayonnaise, lettuce, and tomato are usually added. These additions are often available in restaurants in Tampa and Miami, but are frowned upon by traditionalists there.[8][9]
When assembled, the sandwich is lightly toasted in a sandwich press called a plancha, which is only somewhat similar to a panini press but without grooved surfaces. A traditional Cuban sandwich is never made with a panini grill. The sandwich remains in the plancha until the bread is crisp and the cheese is melted, the press both heats and compresses the sandwich which is then usually cut into two diagonal halves.
Related dishes
A very similar sandwich is the medianoche or "midnight" sandwich, so named because of the sandwich's popularity as a midnight after-clubs treat. It contains the same ingredients, but is assembled on softer bread made from a sweet yellow egg dough.
References and Bibliography
- ^ Linda Stradley (© 2004). "History of Cuban Sandwich, Cubano Sandwich". What's Cooking America website.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c d Andrew Huse. "Welcome to Cuban Sandwich City". Cigar City Magazine, Volume 1, Issue 2.
- ^ a b Enrique Fernandez (9 August 2007). "Our search for a good Cuban sandwich takes a surprising turn". The Miami Herald.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b Steve Otto (24 October 2007). "Cuban Is Ours, Any Way You Try To Slice It". The Tampa Tribune.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ http://www.bread-maker.net/Bread-Types/Cuban-Bread.htm
- ^ http://tampa.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A1907
- ^ http://www.sptimes.com/2003/01/18/TampaBay/To_each__his_own_sand.shtml
- ^ http://www.sptimes.com/2003/01/18/TampaBay/To_each__his_own_sand.shtml
- ^ http://www.eatfoo.com/archives/2006/08/tampa_cuban_quest_la_teresita_1.php
This dish and its origin are also mentioned in:
- Lastra, Frank, Ybor City : The Making of a Landmark Town. University of Tampa Press. 2006.
- Pacheo, Ferdie. Ybor City Chronicles: A Memoir. University of Florida Press. 1994.
External links
- Cuban Sandwich recipe
- Sandwich Cubano HOWTO at Off The Broiler blog
- Pictorial of Latin American Cafeteria's Cuban Sandwich operations in Miami, Florida
- Pictorial review of The Cuban Sandwich shop in Tampa, Florida
- Cuban Sandwich, Medianoche historical citations by food researcher Barry Popik.
- Hot Pressed Cuban, Hold the Dinosaur